The Goat Pen

Scott Van Pelt says: "Kidd-Gilchrist has that "thing" you know when you see. Combo of a million little skills that add up to everything you want in a player."

He's for real.

On the one hand, that was a physical, Big East style bloodletting win, the likes of which UK needs to experience -- that was the style UConn beat us with last year.

On the other, Teague is fast becoming one of the most frustrating Wildcats I've had to endure watching play since....well, he's working his way onto the Mount Rushmore of frustration that includes Bledsoe, Woo and Gimel.

He is a Freshman, though. I think the expectations have been skewed because of Kidd-G and Davis.

Even though it sucked to lose such a close game, the Carolina-Kentucky game was so much more entertaining to watch than that foulfest today. Pitino's teams foul as much as k*ryzthead's squads -- with the difference being the refs actually whistle the Cards for their infractions.

Re: Gilchrist...He's a legit 6'7", 230 lb. supreme athlete whose motor never stops running. He never looks tired and plays with enthusiasm that's a throwback to an era of basketball when players wanted to win more than they wanted the spotlight shining on themselves. He takes the ball to the basket like a cat-quick guard (except he's got the power and leaping ability to go through/over big men), hits his free throws, handles the ball like a point forward, rebounds like a power forward, defends players from 6 feet to 6' 10" tall equally well...About the only thing missing from his arsenal is a consistent three-point shot, which he'll develop in time. Add the fact that he's gotten the better of Harrison Barnes every time they've played against each other dating back to three years ago on the AAU circuit and I don't know what else you could say about the kid. Well, except I wish he played for Carolina instead of Kentucky.

Bklyn -- I know he's a freshman (so was Bledsoe), and want him to succeed, want to cut him slack. But 14 games in the season, he should know better than to do a 360-pivot into a no-look pass in the backcourt against a zone trap for a critical turnover. That shit drives me crazy. You can make effort mistakes all day long; you can miss shots and pick up the occasional out-of-control charge driving to the basket. BUT, as PG, you MUST take care of the basketball. Smart decisions and don't be careless. That's all I ask of a PG. What drives me nuts about Teague (and Bledsoe before him) was he's the anti-Gilchrist (as TAK described him and I agree). He looks to draw attention to himself with the spectacular play rather than make the simple play that helps the team.

He will cost us a shot at the No. 8 if that shit doesn't get cleaned up.

Teague is killing me

UK fans were concerned about the refs coming into today's game and they didn't disappoint us. Frustration for both UK and UL fans with the calls in this game

I concur re: Teague. Thank God for Brandon Knight going pro!

That press was vintage Pitino though. If UL could have hit some perimeter shots they would have won that game.

Dammit TAk. And I thought for sure it was Knights staying and Jones leaving. Ah well, it can never be easy.

Speaking of Jones, I had this mental flash while in Rupp Wednesday for the Lamar game and I rarely make predictions but this one has stuck with me -- I foresee Jones pulling a Goose Givens should we make it to the title game (this is definitely a Not That Prediction). People forget that Givens drove the fans crazy with his inconsistent and sometimes passive play for four years before he dropped 41 on Duke in the '78 title game.

E -- one good thing overlooked in today's mess was that we survived serious foul trouble for the first time. Thank God for Gilchrist. Or, should I say gilCHRIST.

I'm just glad that game is behind us.

I knew we were going to see technicals, not because UL/UK is heated rivalry but the refs we had today want to make the game about them.

It's a pretty good sports day when you don't even have the time to watch a game like UK/UL because there's other stuff on as well.

This G'Town/Providence game's been pretty good as well.

Ga Tech and Utah's made for a decent Sun Bowl, too.

Dammit, I turned after the missed FG and watched the end of the Lakers game, who won the Utes v Yellow Jackets?

Utes

Its a fun time to be an Indiana fan

BTW, while looking for that pic in google... I came across this first: http://treatsmagazine.com/magazine/breaking-away/

God bless the internets.

Well played, Mookie.

It is a very good time to be an IU fan.

Talent!!! If you can hear me from the grave, come out here and get your whooping son!!!

TheBigMook wrote:

BTW, while looking for that pic in google... I came across this first: http://treatsmagazine.com/magazine/breaking-away/

God bless the internets.

(That link is NSFW, FWIW)

I was fully endorsing all pics in that Breaking Away spread, until I got to the last shot and it was a free-for-all of uninspired gluteus minimi.

Tight athletic heinies need love too.

Meh...